May: Not ‘helpful’ for Trump to speculate on London attack

British Prime Minister Theresa May expressed irritation with President Donald Trump’s tweet after an attack on the London underground on Friday claiming “a loser terrorist” who was “in the sights of Scotland Yard” in an interview, saying such speculation was not “helpful.”

“I don’t think it’s helpful for anyone to speculate on what is an ongoing investigation,” May said after George Stephanopoulos asked her in a pre-taped interview on ABC’s “This Week” whether it was true that a suspect was in Scotland Yard’s sights before the attack.

It’s not the first time Trump has irked British officials by tweeting after an attack. The day after terrorists killed seven people in an attack in London in June, Trump took to Twitter to go after London Mayor Sadiq Khan for saying there was “no reason to be alarmed” in a quote that was taken out of context.

Still, May declined to criticize Trump during the rest of the interview and took several opportunities to praise him. She is to meet with Trump this week as part of her visit to the United States.

“I do get on with him,” May said, adding that Trump “actually has an affection for the United Kingdom.”

Asked by Stephanopoulos what she would say to her fellow Brits, who polls have shown have a low opinion of Trump, May responded, “Well, what I say is that they should see what President Trump has done,” citing his commitment to NATO.

“I was very pleased when I came over to see him, shortly after his inauguration, that he gave an absolute 100 percent commitment to NATO,” she said.

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Katherine

Every new attack is a demonstration to the entire world of state incompetence.

Posted on 9/17/17 | 5:25 PM CET

Larsen

@Katherine

Really, so how do you, oh lone competent one, propose that these attacks are stopped? The incompetents of the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia await with baited breath.

Posted on 9/17/17 | 5:33 PM CET

Katherine

@Larsen: Your comment is not directed only at me, but the millions of people who see multiple terror attacks in one year as a sign of state incompetence.

Posted on 9/17/17 | 5:51 PM CET

Vishnou

Mrs May shouldn’t get upset about no. 45’s reactions. The whole world is used to them by now and to the fact that he doesn’t need evidence to express himself on the social media. I can’t see how his comments can endanger Scotland Yard’s research, frankly. He didn’t disclose any secret information that could harm the investigation, did he? His attitude is disturbing: so what? Get used to it. He is too old to change. Better learn and live with it.

Posted on 9/17/17 | 6:51 PM CET

Vishnou

@Katherine: state “incompetence” as you call it, is due to the fact that authorities are confronted with a new kind of sneaky and coward war which by nature is not easily detected and defeated and which authorities have little means to counter. It happens in all European capitals where terrorists are active. Police forces are not incompetent. CCTV should be used in a pro-active way and legal amendments voted to allow for it.

Posted on 9/17/17 | 7:11 PM CET

DanTheMan

@Vishnou

Agree. Something in nothing.

Posted on 9/17/17 | 7:36 PM CET

Terence@eu.com

@Katherine

Good to know there are other know-it-alls. As Larsen says, Happening in many countries, they could all be incompetent, but as you haven’t offered a single solitary method of tackling these ‘lone wolf’ attacks I’ll put it down to a cheap shot that many of you are fond of.

Posted on 9/17/17 | 7:40 PM CET

Lamia

Trump is a loudmouth, but it turns out that, not for the first time, his guess is correct. In fact, we’ve now had two ‘refugee’ ‘children’ arrested in connection with this crime. Hence the uncharacteristic silence from the ‘refugees welcome’ crowd.